Hong Kong Vaccinations

Where I live, the county health department does vaccinations like this, but not free.

Been to both places multiple times, didn't get any special shots ahead of time; nothing bad happened to me. Never occurred to me that I would ever need anything. For just three days in each I wouldn't bother with it. Hong Kong especially is a modern cosmopolitan city.

Thank you so much for your help. I'm feeling more at ease. I'm so excited. Another bucket item to be crossed off the list. :-)

The typhoid vaccine is also in an oral form and gives you longer immunity than the injectable form. It is 4 pills taken over a week's time. My husband and I took this vaccine recently for our upcoming trip to Africa. Our doctor didn't know that the vaccine came in a pill form. We had to inform him of this. We had no ill effects from this vaccine and I would highly recommend it. Your doctor could get you a prescription that can be filled by a local pharmacy although it may take the pharmacy 24 hours to obtain it. The oral vaccine is called Vivotif and gives you 5 years of immunity. The injection gives you two years of immunity.

The American CDC suggestions:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list/

Thank you.
I like to carry around high protein snacks. Can I place tuna packs in my luggage? Is that allowed?

I'm going to Shanghai and Beijing in a few weeks. I did a little research and decided not to get any typhoid shots (or any other shots) as we're staying just in the large cities.

We traveled in China twice including trips into areas less traveled by westerners and didn't get sick. We did get typhoid and Hep A/B vaccinations. For most part we were careful not to drink tap water but on occasion I would forget and rinse after teeth brushing using tap water.

We were advised to not drink cold tap water even at the up scale western hotels. I did take a leap of faith at a boutique hotel in Longsheng which had a special faucet signed as being drinkable water. Every hotel had hot pots for boiling tea water. Heat kills typhoid bacteria.

Typhoid can be transmitted by a food service worker who goes to the bathroom and doesn't wash their hands. The oral vaccine is easy, painless, inexpensive and gives you 5 years of immunity. To me, it's a no brainer.

marie,

Are you a resident of Toronto? It should be easy to get any vaccinations you might require at a Travel Medicine Clinic and this is one place you could look at (there are others).....

http://www.travelclin.com/index2.htm

If Ontario is anything like B.C., this sort of thing was privatized several years ago, so isn't covered on Provincial Health plans. In B.C. it's also possible to get travel vaccinations at any Pharmacy (some advance notice may be required, as they may have to order some vaccines).

In addition to getting vaccinations specific for the destinations you'll be visiting, it's also prudent to review routine vaccinations such as Tetanus, MMR or whatever. Although it's not 100% effective, Dukoral is also a good idea for many areas. Hepatitis A is a good one (or the combined Hep. A/B with Twinrix), but if you haven't had it you'll want to get started early, as if I remember correctly it may take 3 jabs over a period of a month or whatever to take effect.

The official Government of Canada website provides guidelines on what vaccines are required for each destination, along with lots of other good information (you'll have to check Beijing separately).......

https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/hong-kong

You can also check the IAMAT website for information on vaccinations.....

https://www.iamat.org/country/china/risk/routine-immunizations

I visit the Travel Medicine Clinic here each year before travelling abroad, and the Doc usually gives me a prescription for Cipro, but I've never been to China so don't know if that would be applicable there. There is a charge for the travel medical service as well as the med's, but in the grand scheme of things, that's not a big deal.

Hep B: as if I remember correctly it may take 3 jabs over a period of a month or whatever to take effect.

Correct re Hep B vaccine. On our first trip to China we were able to get the first and second of the three before departure. The sequence is second after one month, third six months after the first. Our public health nurse said that the first two of three is better than none.

https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/china#health

Food and Water-borne Diseases

Travellers to any destination in the world can develop travellers'
diarrhea from consuming contaminated water or food.

In some areas in East Asia, food and water can also carry diseases
like cholera, hepatitis A, schistosomiasis and typhoid. Practise
safe food and water precautions while travelling in East Asia.
Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!

Thank you, thank you to everyone who applied. I finally rece'd answers from Travel Clinic. No shots required, but Typhoid and Hep A recommended. Thanks again. You guys/gals are awesome!